ATW Photo Gallery-Passenger Experience/Cabin Interiors

South Korea's Asiana Airlines Airbus A380 has 66 business class seats located on the upper-deck. This picture shows seat 15A, which can be changed into a full-flat bed. A lot of private space is available.

Qatar Airways presented a new business-class seat, “Q Suite,” at ITB Berlin on March 8, 2017.

From the end of March 2017, SWISS business-class customers will be able to book “privacy seats” on long-haul flights with a CHF99 ($96) and CHF199 fee, depending on the length of the flight. HON Circle Members and Senators (members of the Miles & More FFP) may book these exclusive seats free of charge, subject to availability.

PriestmanGoode unveiled new cabin designs for South African Airways’ widebody fleet of new A330-300s, which include business- and economy-class cabins, as well as entrance areas, brand panels and cabin branding. The business class cabin features a custom Thompson Vantage XL seat. The flat bed measures close to 2 meters. Each passenger has large personal stowage areas as well as privacy and direct aisle access. Economy class features a custom Geven seat upholstered in fabric with a bespoke pattern inspired by contemporary African crafts.

Chicago-based United Airlines will roll out its new premium business-class product United Polaris in all of the company’s markets Dec. 1. The product rebranding includes all aircraft interiors, digital media, inflight service and airport lounges.

Dubai-based Emirates Airline has begun taking delivery of new generation Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The first new generation A380-388Q was delivered this month as Emirates’ 85th A380. In addition to an onboard lounge and first class shower spa, the A380-388Q will have several new features, including a new seat configuration. Photo: A380 business class on the upper deck.

Russia’s Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Co. (SCAC) has delivered the first two of six Sukhoi Superjet 100s (SSJ100s) with a new variable cabin layout to the State Transport Leasing Co.  The aircraft will be delivered to Russia’s Yamal Airlines in November, followed by the rest by the end of the year.

TAP Portugal has completed a cabin overhaul on its first Airbus A319, marking the start of a 48-aircraft roll-out.

Dubai-based Emirates Airline will equip its upcoming fleet of 150 Boeing 777X aircraft with Thales’ AVANT inflight entertainment (IFE) system, the two companies announced Oct. 25. 

Rockwell Collins and B/E Aerospace will consolidate headquarters and move quickly to realize synergies, Rockwell Collins said Monday after announcing plans to acquire aircraft cabin supplier B/E Aerospace for $8.3 billion in a deal that is expected to complete in spring 2017. Photo: B/E Aerospace-Super Diamond Business Class Seats

Virgin Australia is set to install BAE Systems’ AC outlet/USB charging in-seat power stations for personal IFE devices on one of its Boeing 737-800 aircraft for a trial period, BAE said Oct. 24. Photo: IntelliCabin in-seat power system

Lufthansa Systems will expand its partner network for the BoardConnect inflight entertainment platform.

Delta Air Lines will introduce an all-suite business-class cabin on its first Airbus A350-900 arriving next year, and will roll out the new business-class offering on additional aircraft over time. The A350 business-class cabin will feature 32 suites with full-height sliding doors. Photo: Artist rendering of Delta business-class suite to debut on Airbus A350 in 2017.

LOT Polish Airlines, which recently completed a cabin upgrade in its Boeing 737-400s, placed the first of three newly modernized aircraft into service on its Warsaw-London Heathrow route June 27.

Copenhagen Airport has inaugurated vision-box, an innovative Automated Border Control system, which allows passengers—departing to or arriving from outside the Schengen Area—to clear immigration in the same hall using a unique bank of self-service biometric eGates. This landmark project in the country was implemented in collaboration with the Danish partner Biometric Solutions. It means a significant improvement in operational efficiency and security for the airport and Danish police.

AIM Altitude has produced a new business class bar and lounge for Virgin Australia’s newly refitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The final Door 2 monument design is the result of collaboration between Virgin Australia, AIM Altitude and design house, tangerine, which began in 2014. The design was developed and engineered by AIM Altitude specialists in New Zealand, before AIM Altitude in the UK took up the mantle with manufacturing at its Cabin Interiors facility in Bournemouth. The first of five refurbished 777-300ERs re-entered service between Australia and the US in May.

United Polaris new business-class seating to be introduced Dec. 1 on intercontinental flights. 

United Polaris business class

United Polaris business-class lounge

United's new Polaris Business Class

United Polaris business-class

Vision-Box biometric passport authentication technology is being used at New York JFK airport by US Customs and Border Protection agents. This technology allows for a highly accurate biometric matching of a traveler’s face with the facial image stored on the identification document’s e-chip, thus preventing document swapping.

Air France-KLM is introducing new cabins on Houston flights on Boeing 777 aircraft. Air France is offering new La Première, Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins on Houston-Paris routes. Air France’s nonstop Houston-Paris route is operated daily on a Boeing 777-300 and a -200. The new La Première suites are available on 777-300 aircraft, which Air France will operate on select flights to Houston starting April 8.  

Ryukyu Air Commuter Q400 Cargo-Combi cabin interior. RAC's Q400 combi aircraft each provide up to 5,600 lb. (2,540 kg) of cargo capacity and comfortably accommodates 50 passengers.

Ryukyu Air Commuter Q400 Cargo-Combi cabin interior. RAC's Q400 combi aircraft each provide up to 5,600 lb. (2,540 kg) of cargo capacity and comfortably accommodates 50 passengers.

Airbus is hoping to appeal directly to passengers with the launch of a modern cabin interior look, branded Airspace, which will debut on the Airbus A330neo in 2017 and will be displayed as a mock-up at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg from April 5-7.

Boeing has developed a self-cleaning lavatory prototype that uses ultraviolet (UV) light to kill 99.99% of germs. According to Boeing, the cleaning system “can disinfect all surfaces after every use in just three seconds. Boeing believes this self-cleaning technology, combined with touchless features, will enhance the passenger experience on commercial flights.” According to Boeing, the lavatory uses Far UV light that would be activated only when the lavatory is unoccupied. Far UV is different from the UVA or UVB light in tanning beds, and is not harmful to people. Boeing engineers said they have shown through testing on their prototype that this innovation can minimize the growth and potential transmission of micro-organisms. Boeing has filed for a patent on this concept.

As the only US domestic carrier still offering complimentary meals to guests in all cabins, Hawaiian Airlines and executive chef Chai Chaowasaree launched the rotating “Featured Chef Series” on June 1, 2015. Featuring locally inspired menu creations from five of Hawaii’s burgeoning top chefs on a six-month rotation through 2017, the program was launched with a menu by Chef Jon Matsubara. On December 1, the airline brought a menu by Chef Lee Anne Wong, well known as a “cheftestant” on Bravo’s Top Chef.

EL AL Israel Airlines recently brought exec chef Steven Weintraub on board as a surprise to serve gourmet meals on First Class and Platinum Class and the airline has executed other spontaneous in air pop-up meals with their executive chefs. The “Chef on Board flights” are planned sporadically as they want to keep the surprise element for passengers. The airline also just launched a new Business Class menu and wine list accompanied by rebranded trays designed to bring classic Italy to mind. The new meals offer different tastes, ethic delicacies and styles from around the world which change every three months.

Singapore Airlines will equip its mid-haul Airbus A350s with Thales’ AVANT inflight entertainment (IFE) and Ka-band connectivity from when the aircraft enters service with the airline in 2018. The announcement was made at the Singapore Airshow.

Airberlin, which added five economy class rows of XL seats on each of its 14 A330s, said these 48 XL seats give passengers 20% more legroom for improved comfort and faster boarding or disembarking.

Airberlin, which fitted more XL economy seats on its A330-200 long-haul fleet in September 2015, are proving to be very popular with passengers with an 80% occupancy rate.

French industrial group Finaero and UAE firm Greenline Interiors have agreed to establish a specialist cabin interiors facility in Dubai. Photo: Aircraft Interior Products washroom

Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is set to take delivery of four new Airbus A330-300 aircraft in 2016, all fitted with an enhanced business class.

Swiss International Air Lines Boeing 777-300ER business class cabin, which offers 62 seats.

Swiss International Air Lines Boeing 777-300ER First class lie-flat seat

Boeing 737 MAX 8 cabin interior

Boeing 737 MAX 8 cabin interior

Boeing 737 MAX 8 cabin interior

Frankfurt Airport has introduced “Silent Chairs” to offer more relaxation for transfer passengers.

These arch-shaped chairs noticeably reduce the ambient noise, enabling passengers to listen to their own music, thanks to integrated speakers that can be connected to their smartphones, tablets or other digital devices. Those wishing to work will also find integrated power sockets, a USB port, and a small table.

Silent chairs are available to transferring passengers in Terminal 1 opposite gates A58 and Z58, and in Terminal 2 at gates D4 and E5.  Fraport, the airport operator, is planning to add more silent chairs in the terminals.

STG Aerospace’s saf-Tglo photoluminescent system, SuperSeal UltraLite (SSUL), has received FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for Airbus A320 family aircraft. Following certification, A320 operators are able to upgrade the SSUL emergency floor path marking system to the latest version.

Aruba International Airport has inaugurated the extension of Aruba Happy Flow, an Automated Border Control (ABC) solution with more state-of-the-art eGates serving both arrivals and departures.

Air France-KLM has rolled out 765 new self-serve kiosks at Amsterdam’s Schiphol and Paris’ Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports. The kiosks, designed by IT provider SITA, allow passengers to quickly and easily check in for flights, print bag tags or purchase additional services.

Brazil’s Viracopos International Airport (VCP), which handled a record 10.3 million passengers in 2015, has implemented the latest Automated Border Control technology--Vision-Box.

Icelandair has selected STG Aerospace to install its next generation saf-Tglo SuperSeal UltraLite (SSUL) photoluminescent floorpath lighting for its Boeing 767 aircraft, becoming the first 767 operator for this newly certified system.